Keni Burke (Kenneth M. Burke)

Chicago-born singer, songwriter, producer and musician Keni Burke made a name for himself both as part of a popular soul group and as a pioneering musician who fused elements of jazz and soul into a tasty mix.

First coming to the attention of the world as part of the teen family group the Five Stairsteps, Burke tasted success as the writer of the group's first hit, 1966's "You Waited Too Long."  The group continued to score moderate R&B hits over the next few years, including "World of Fantasy," "Don't Change Your Love" and "Something's Missing" before landing the across-the-board smash, "O-o-h Child."  As the hits stopped coming for the group in the mid-70s, Burke went solo while also beginning his career as a session musician.

Over the next ten years Burke performed with virtually every major R&B artist, becoming perhaps the most sought-after bassist in popular music.  His solo recording career had its ups and downs, with his most influential song being the funky "Risin' To The Top," a cut that was only a middling charter when it was released in 1982 but which has been sampled dozens of times and become a true R&B classic.

In 1998, more than a decade after his last solo release, Burke signed with UK-based Expansion Records and released the critically acclaimed Nothing But Love.

 Productions, co-productions (and songs) appear on:

Bill Withers: LP/CD Menagerie (CBS, 1977)
Curtis Mayfield: LP/CD Something To Believe In (Curtom, 1980)
Jones Girls, The: LP/CD Keep It Comin' (PIR, 1984)
Keni Burke: LP Keni Burke (Dark Horse, 1977)
Keni Burke: LP/CD You're The Best (RCA, 1981)
Keni Burke: LP/CD Changes (RCA, 1982)
O'Jays, The: LP/CD When Will I See You Again (PIR, 1983)
O'Jays, The: LP/CD Love And More (PIR, 1984)

Other contributions:

Billy Preston: LP It's My Pleasure (A&M, 1975) - musician
Billy Preston: LP Billy Preston (A&M, 1976) - musician
Billy Preston: LP A Whole New Thing (A&M, 1977) - musician
D.J. Rogers: LP Love, Music & Life (RCA, 1977) - musician
D.J. Rogers: LP Love Brought Me Back (Columbia, 1978) - musician
D.J. Rogers: LP Trust Me (ARC, 1979) - musician
Emotions, The: LP New Affair (ARC-CBS, 1981) - musician
Four Tops, The: LP Back Where I Belong (Motown, 1983) - musician
George Howard: LP/CD Steppin' Out (GRP, 1984) - musician
Linda Clifford: LP/CD If My Friends Could See Me Now (Curtom, 1978) - musician
Narada Michael Walden: LP/CD Awakening (Atlantic, 1977) - musician
Natalie Cole: LP I Love You So (Capitol, 1979) - musician
Natalie Cole: LP Happy Love (Capitol, 1981) - musician
Perri: LP/CD The Flight (Zebra, 1988) - musician, songwriter
Pockets, The: LP/CD Take It On Up (CBS, 1978) - songwriter
Ramsey Lewis: LP/CD Routes (CBS, 1980) - musician
Sly & The Family Stone: LP/CD Back On The Right Track (Warner Bros., 1979) - musician
Smokey Robinson: LP Warm Thoughts (Motown, 1980) - musician
Stairsteps: LP 2nd Resurrection (Dark Horse, 1976) - songwriter
Stargard: LP What You Waitin' For (MCA, 1978) - musician
Stargard: LP The Changing Of The Gard (Warner Bros., 1979) - musician
Stargard: LP Back 2 Back (Warner Bros., 1981) - musician
Terry Callier: LP/CD Turn You To Love (Elektra, 1979) - musician
Undisputed Truth: LP Smokin' (Whitfield, 1979) - musician
Whispers, The: LP/CD Whisper In Your Ear (Solar, 1979) - songwriter, arranger